For Souls Harbour Rescue Mission in downtown Halifax, it was third time lucky winning the top prize from an insurance company’s national fund for charities and community groups.

The mission was also successful twice before, so it was a bit of a surprise when Souls Harbour won another $100,000 this week from the Aviva Community Fund for its plans to build a shelter onto its downtown operation.

“Excited and surprised,” said CEO Michelle Porter. “As a two-time winner already, they said it wouldn’t impact it, but you always wonder, right? So to have won this Aviva contest three times is phenomenal. It’s more than we could ever do with our resources.”

Souls Harbour operates a drop-in centre on Cunard Street, near the Halifax Common, and runs a smaller drop-in centre in Bridgewater.

The mission provides up to 190 hot meals six days a week in Halifax and up to 40 in Bridgewater, catering mostly to men. In addition, Souls Harbour collects clothing and allows people to take articles with them, and it offers internet access, haircuts, Bible studies and other services.

People enjoy a meal at Souls Harbour Rescue Mission during the Christmas in July event. (Staff)

The first two contest prizes funded a new commercial kitchen and various renovations at the Halifax drop-in centre.

Porter said with more than $10,000 donated by 100 Men Who Give A Damn and the latest $100,000 from Aviva, the mission can renovate washrooms and showers and build a sleeping loft for 12-24 men who need help because they are homeless or in need of assistance with mental health or addictions issues.

“It will be a recovery shelter and so they will be there longer,” she said. “It’s not a one-night shelter. It’s for people who want to check in to a tailored recovery program, so whatever their issues are that are keeping them homeless, we want to work with them on that.”

Work on building a third-floor loft is expected to begin in January, said Porter.